The Albany man ditched his home phone, opting instead to go with only a cellphone. And he isn't alone.

Crook may have been a bit before his time in 1996, but he's now among the ever-growing (and majority) number of households that have cut off the landline in favor of a wireless option, something consumers say saves money and is easier in the long run.

"I just didn't see the point," Crook said of paying for a landline after moving out of his family's home. "I saw it early on that the cellphone was going to be a big thing, though I didn't know it was going to turn into iPhones and all these devices that can do all these things. Really, there was no point in paying for the home line and cellphone service."

On a national level, Crook is part of the 45 percent of households expected to have wireless-only phone service by the end of this year, according to USTelecom. The trade group also reported late last month that just 26 percent of households will be using traditional landlines by the end of the year. The rest (29 percent) will be using Internet-based landlines.

More Information

Are you covered?

Here's where you can check each major provider's coverage in your area.

"People switching to cellphones or no phones or other means of communication ... that shift in technology, that shift in customer usage has been going on for several years," Verizon spokesman John Bonomo said. "And some of it is generational, too. A few years ago, you would see it was just people who are in their 20-somethings (switch). Now whether they're using a wireless-only option or using a telephone service you buy (at a department store), that's something that's a choice people have these days."

Verizon Wireless had 11.8 million residential voice connections at the end of 2012, down from 12.5 million in 2010, Bonomo said. He said although landline service has declined, TV and FiOS Internet service subscribers helped offset losses for the company while the residential consumer business grows steadily. Revenues were up 4.3 percent in the third quarter despite the decline in landline voice revenues, Bonomo said.

Time Warner Cable has roughly 4.8 million residential phone subscribers, spokesman Scott Pryzwansky said. On the business front, the number is growing. Pryzwansky said the company offers a penny-per-call plan to various countries around the world and has begun particpating in the FCC's LIfeline government-assistance program in addition to trying to provide top-notch customer service to remain competitive in the phone market.

In the Capital Region, it would appear that Crook is among a near majority of phone users who have gone wireless only. Joining him is Angelica Morris of Albany, who hasn't had a home phone since 2003. She said she loves not having an additional bill and having all calls go directly to her.

Same goes for Jes. Cavanaugh of Albany, who also ditched the landline a decade ago in favor of a Sprint cellphone and hasn't looked back.

"Part of my reasoning was money, but a larger part was that having two separate lines seemed pointless for me," Cavanaugh said. "Even now, I telecommute for work, and only have the cellphone. Because of the plans available now, I get no additional charges, even if I'm making daytime calls. And the simplicity for everyone of only having one phone number works out well."

Of 215 voters in a Times Union survey, 63 percent said they switched to wireless-only. The next closest demographic was 20 percent of voters who said they've considered switching but have kept a landline — just in case.

Those who live in or near the region's hub cities may be able to switch, but those who live in rural areas may not be able to cut off their home phone service. Coverage maps from the four major wireless providers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint) show some disparities in where cellphone users have free reign to rack up minute use.

Verizon and AT&T cover most of the Capital Region with base voice coverage (not necessarily their 4G or LTE data coverage).

T-Mobile is a bit spottier, with much of the area in the triangle between Gloversville, Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls left uncovered and parts east of Rensselaer to the state line either covered by a partner or with no service.

Sprint coverage is a touch lower, with the major areas (Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs) covered but other parts, especially in Rensselaer County, considered off-network roaming.

Bill Clarke of Altamont said he would switch to wireless-only if he could, but coverage even just 10 miles from the Albany line isn't decent enough.

Still, Crook, who uses Sprint, said his calls are rarely dropped. He said that within 10 to 15 years, he foresees a near total decline in residential landline use because there are few practical uses for landlines, even today.